The Gaze of God (season 3 episode 1)
Beginning a new season of the Beloved Podcast, Alice Hall, Iffa Willis and Anna Bailey begin unpacking what it means to live in the gaze of God. Scripture We explore the experience of Hagar (Genesis 16) and Mary (Luke 1), as well as Psalm 139. Image In our conversation we looked at this image by Chris Duffett. https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0104/8195/8969/products/image_15b080f3-2dce-43a6-9041-d7248b799c0f_720x.jpg?v=1588780294 Music We have a Spotify playlist to accompany the podcast. This will grow with each episode. Check it out here: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/46HvR2rtPn1TwP6QPvDc8o?dl_branch=1&si=PIZ_r5jyQMup6Ril5h8O-A Quote from John Paul II’s letter Dies Domini “It would be banal to interpret God's "rest" as a kind of divine "inactivity". By its nature, the creative act which founds the world is unceasing and God is always at work, as Jesus himself declares in speaking of the Sabbath precept: "My Father is working still, and I am working" (Jn 5:17). The divine rest of the seventh day does not allude to an inactive God, but emphasizes the fullness of what has been accomplished. It speaks, as it were, of God's lingering before the "very good" work (Gn 1:31) which his hand has wrought, in order to cast upon it a gaze full of joyous delight. This is a "contemplative" gaze which does not look to new accomplishments but enjoys the beauty of what has already been achieved. It is a gaze which God casts upon all things, but in a special way upon man, the crown of creation. It is a gaze which already discloses something of the nuptial shape of the relationship which God wants to establish with the creature made in his own image, by calling that creature to enter a pact of love.” Journaling Prompts PAUSE to GAZE This week, when can you pause amidst your preparations for Christmas and allow yourself to meet God’s gaze? Is it possible for you to go to Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament and gaze upon the Lord there? GAZED UPON Can you identify times when you have felt really seen and known by humans or by the Lord? GAZING ON THE WORD Spend some time reflecting on Psalm 139. What word or phrase stands out to you in particularly? What might God be trying to say to you through this word or phrase? Get in touch We’d love to hear from you! Please send any feedback or questions to beloved@sioncommunity.org.uk We have an Instagram and a Facebook group. We will be sharing the images for each episode on our social media. It’s also a way to find others who are listening to the podcast and to share the experience, the challenges and the blessings that come from it. https://instagram.com/i_am.he_is.beloved?utm_medium=copy_link https://www.facebook.com/groups/belovedministry/?ref=share Support If you have enjoyed the podcast, we invite you to prayerfully consider donating to the work of Sion Community, by going to https://www.sioncommunity.org.uk/ and clicking the donate button.